Method of and apparatus for setting precast forms in aqueous bodies



F. B. SMITH March 11, 1930.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING PRECAST FORMS IN AQUEOUS BODIESFiled Oct. 2'7, 1928 v INVENTOR.

. ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANCIS BETTS' SMITH,OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING:PRECAST FORMS IN AQUEOUS BODIES Application filed October 27, 1928.

The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus forsetting on a ;mud, or other soft bottom, tubes or bodies which I areassembled or pre-cast, moved to position, and thereafter submerged in anaqueous body.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a supportingmethod for assembled or pre-cast bodies, which will enable the body tobe temporarily set on a mud bottom and immediately thereafter becheaply, quickly, and easily permanently set on sup ports or foundationswhich will preclude the settling thereof, and which will affordadelli'quate, permanent foundation, even if the supporting area be mud,or other soft structure.

Another object is to provide a form associated with the assembled orpro-cast body in such manner that when positioning the assembled orpre-cast body, the form is movable therewith and may be lowered over theends of projecting piling or supports and thereafter filled with a.binding, medium,

which forms a cradle for the assembled or pre-cast body, and which willengage the piling and form therewith a directly supporting mass.

The invention consists broadly in a plurality of open forms attached tothe assembled or pre-cast body, and submergible therewith, forcooperation with an artificial foundation during the leveling andaligning of the body, and which are so constructed as to permit thefilling thereof with concrete, or other composite mass, which willharden and form a support for the assembled or precast body, the massuniting with the artificial founda tion.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the inventionconsists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and ointed out inthe claims hereto appended; it eing understood that various changes inthe form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within thescope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Serial No. 315,417.

In the drawings, disclosing the preferred embodiment of the invention-Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an assembled or pre-cast bodysubmerged in an aqueous body and supported at a desired grade.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 disclosing themeans for aligning and leveling the assembled or pre'cast structure.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1, illustrating one of the steelforms positioned over the projecting ends of the piles driven into themud bottom.

Referring to the several views of the drawings, wherein like charactersdesignate corresponding parts, 1 indicates an assembled or pre-castform, in the present invention it being in the form of a cylindricaltube of sufficient size to afiord a vehicular tunnel, or passageway,lying beneath the surface of a body of water. While but one segment ofthe tubular type is shown, it is to be understood that any number may beemployed, they being arranged in end to end alignment to form acontinuous tube or tunnel beneath the surface of the aqueous body. Alsothe assembled or pre-cast body may be composed of a double barrelledstructure, such that two tubular structures are provided, as theassembled or pre-cast bodies are arranged in end to end alignmentbeneath the surface of the aqueous body.

The interior of the tubular assembled or precast body is provided with alongitudinal extending transversely disposed dividing wall 2, forming aballast chamber 3 l0ngitudinally of the body. Within said chamber 3 isadapted to be received ballast fluid, such as water, for the purposehereinafter described.

On the surface of the wall 2 is deposited a body of sand, or otherballast, the surface of which or of the wall 2 forms the roadway orwalkway longitudinally of the assembled or pre-cast body.

Adjacent its ends, the outer surface of the body 1, beneath the wall 2and ballast chamber 55, is formed with an outwardly extending bracket 4,the undersurface of which is preferably disposed in parallel relationwith the surface of the wall 2.

Cooperating with the lower edge of each bracket 4 is an anchor block 5suspended beneath its associated bracket 4: by suitable hangers (5extending through the bracket into the interior of the tubular portionof the assembled or pre-cast body. The hangers are illustrated as beingunited by a common connector 7, which is operated by any suitable meansto move through the hangers 6, anchor block 5, to and from theundersurface of the bracket 4.

At points desired, there are secured to the surface of the assembled orpre-cast body 1, suitable hollow forms 8, preferably of metallicstructure, they being open along their bottom edge 9; closed along theiredges 10; and open at their upper ends on each side of the assembled orpre-cast body, as at 11.

These forms are arranged with their bottom edge extending parallel withand beneath the wall 2, and in elevation the forms are of an outlinesimulating a pipe supporting cradle.

In the embodiment illustrated, the forms 8 are attached to the surfaceof the assembled or pre-cast body 1 by means of bolts, or otherconnections, not shown.

With the member 1 formed in any suitable manner, with the brackets 4integral therewith, and the forms 8 attached thereto, and with ballastin chamber 3 and on the wall 2, and with the ends of the body closed bysuitable bulk-heads, the body is floated or launched in a stream, orsuitable body of Water, in which it floats partly submerged.

With the bed of the stream, or aqueous body, which is to receive thepre-cast body, suitably smoothed or dredged, has driven thereinto linesor groups 13 of piling located to correspond with the spacing of theforms 8 on the body 1, the ends of the piling adapted to project abovethe surface of the bed of the a ueous body.

he assembled or pre-cast body 1 is brought to the desired location forsubmerging and by the addition thereto of additional ballast the memberor tube is caused to gradually submerge.

B control of the quantity of ballast added to tii e member or tube itsbuoyancy is regulated to such a fineness that when the body approachesthe bottom, the anchor blocks 5 rest lightly upon the temporary base 14,the forms 8 overlying the piles 13.

By the operation of mechanism not illustrated, and forming no part ofthis invention, the anchor blocks 5, through hangers 6, are operated toadjust the tube to the desired grade. Immediately thereafter, concrete,or other materials capable of setting and forming a support or cradlebase, is poured into each form 8, through its openings 11. After this isset, the tube is bedded, or back-filled, in.

any of the well known manners, permitting the weight of the tube andback-fill to rest on the newly formed cradles within forms 8.

Vhile the formation and bedding of but one single tubular section isdescribed, and the preferred method set forth in detail, it is to beunderstood that any number of single or twin tubular sections areadapted for formation and bedding in the same manner, the bedding takingplace in end to end relation, and when the abutting joints aresealed andthe bulk'heads removed, a continuous tube, tunnel, or passage for anydesired purpose is provided.

I claim 1. The method of setting submersible structures containingbuoyancy means and carrying spaced hollow foundation forms in aqueousbodies which consists in preparing the bottom of the aqueous body bydriving piles thereinto, arranged in groups, with the ends of the pilesprojecting above the bottom of the aqueous body, the groups being spacedcorresponding to the distance between the hollow foundation forms,operating the buoyancy means to cause the gradual submergence of thestructure to its desired position with each hollow foundation formreceiving through its bottom the projecting ends of one of the groups ofpiles, then filling the foundation forms with concrete to form thereinfoundations in which the projecting ends of said piles are embedded.

2. A structure for submergence in an aqueous body, comprising a bodyhaving a chamber affording a buoyancy means, and a plurality offoundation forms carried at spaced points in longitudinal alignment onthe eX- terior of the body, said forms being hollow, having an openbottom and provided with a filling opening near their top.

3. A structure for submergence in an aqueous body, comprising anelongated tubular body provided on its interior with a transverselydisposed, longitudinally extending way wall and on its out-side with abracket, the wall surface of which is parallel with the surface of theway wall, a plurality of hangers of rigid structure adjustably extendingthrough the body wall and bracket, and an anchor block suspended beneaththe bracket by said hangers and movable to and from the bracket on theadjustment of said hangers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANCIS BETT'S SMITH.

